This study is to establish the characteristic HPLC chromatogram of phenols in Ephedrae Herba, from which to pick out the marker peaks, followed by the analysis of the regularity of their distribution and content in the herbaceous stems of Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia and E. equisetina. The HPLC-DAD method for the characteristic chromatogram as well as quantitative analysis was established. The separation was carried out on a YMC-Pack ODS-A column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm), eluted with the mobile phases as 0.01% formic acid aqueous solution (A) and acetonitrile (B) in a linear gradient (0-10 min, 17% B; 10-25 min, 17%-19% B; 25- 33 min, 19%-48% B; 33-35 min, 48%-51% B; 35-44 min, 51% B). The flow rate was kept at 1.0 mL · min⁻¹. The column tem- perature was 40 °C, and the detection wavelength was set at 350 nm (0-16 min) and 330 nm (16-44 min). Forty-six batches of collected samples from three official origins of Ephedrae Herba were detected, whose liquid chromatograms proven to be helpful to the differentiation of different origins. With principal component analysis and the analysis of distribution of peak area, twelve key peaks from the chromatogram were discussed in details on their contributions to the characteristics and differences of three official origins of the herb: peak area of peak 10, 11, 12 were found out to be significantly higher in E. equisetina than in other two origins, whose sum (higher than 146 mAU in E. equisetina) was useful for the discrimination between E. equisetina and the other two origins; peak area of 1 and 4 were respectively higher in E. sinica and E. intermedia than in other official origins, indicating their important effect on the differen- tiation of corresponding origins; peak 8 and 9 were picked out as two characteristic common peaks in three official origins of the herb, whose peak area showed little difference among different origins; further, peak area of other key peaks in the chromatogram also showed some difference among three origins, which make contributions to the differentiation of origins as well. Then, four phenols as 2"-O-α- L-rhamnosyl-isovitexin (1), vitexin (2), pollenitin B (5) and herbacetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (6) were quantitative analyzed with the above-mentioned method, with good linear relationship and accuracy (recoveries in a range of 97.8%-102.5%). The content of the four phenols were firstly reported in Ephedrae Herba from official origins, which were respectively trace-1.55 (1), trace-0.160 (2), trace-0.284 (5) and trace-0.620 (6) mg · g⁻¹ in all of the tested samples. In addition, the content of these phenols showed differences in three official origins, especially 1, whose content in E. sinica [(0.670 ± 0.88) mg ± g⁻¹] were significantly higher than in other two origins (lower than 0.16 mg ± g⁻¹ besides sample Ei-060630-2-2), and 6, whose average content in E. equisetina [(0.260 ± 0.039 2) mg · g⁻¹] were twice as high as in E. sinica [(0.120 ± 0.270) mg · g⁻¹] and E. intermedia [(0.136 ± 0.485) mg g⁻¹], indicating the important effects of the two constituents on the differentiation among three official origins of the herb. The method established for the characteristic HPLC chromatogram and quantitative analysis of phenols was simple and accurate, and the marker constituents selected may provide new guides for the discrimination of official origins as well as the improvement of quality criteria of EphedraeHerba.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Phenols ; analysis

Introduction：Neonatal tetanus is a major cause of neonatal mortality in many developing countries and remains a major public health problem. This study aimed to determine risk factors associated with neonatal tetanus in Wenzhou, China.Methodology：Medical records of neonatal tetanus cases from 17 hospitals over a 13-year period (2000–2012) were reviewed for potential risk factors. Controls were selected from neonates with diseases other than tetanus who were admitted to the same facility during the same period. The potential risk factors of the neonatal tetanus group were compared with the control group using univariate analysis and an unconditional logistic regression model.Results：A total of 246 neonates with tetanus and 257 controls were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that having untrained birth attendants, home delivery, an unsterile method of delivery and being a migrant to Wenzhou were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery were significantly higher in the tetanus group than the control group (odds ratio: 1371.0; 95% confidence interval: 206.0, 9123.5).Conclusion：This study identified that the main risks of neonatal tetanus in cases from Wenzhou were having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery. Preventive measures directed to these risk factors may reduce the occurrence of neonatal tetanus in the studied area.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the dental care utilization and expenditure of residents in Beijing, and to provide some basis on the policy of oral health insurance system.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,517 subjects (urban area) and 1,878 subjects (rural area) of all age groups in Beijing selected by stratified, clustering, random sampling. The data of oral health care utilization and expenditure were collected in their home.

RESULTSThe number of the people who visited a dentist in a year were low both in urban area and in rural area, but the expenditure for oral health care per visit were quite high. The value of utilization of dental care in rural residents was 1/3 of that in urban residents, while the value of expenditure in rural people was about 1/2 of that in urban people. 2.07% incomes of rural residents were used for dental care per year, the corresponding value of urban residents was 1.77%. There was significant difference on the expenditure among those with different demographic, socio-economic backgrounds.

CONCLUSIONSThe expenditure for oral health care was high in Beijing, which accounted for quite a lot in average incomes per year. The burden of expenditure for dental care on rural residents was heavier than that on urban residents. The level of expenditure for dental care could provide some references for oral health insurance system in Beijing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Dental Health Services ; economics ; statistics & numerical data ; Fees, Dental ; Female ; Health Services Accessibility ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Dental ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Health Services ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Health Services ; statistics & numerical data

Objective:To explore and optimize the teaching content of clinical case discussion course based on clinical pathophysiology and therapy (CPPT), and to improve the teaching quality of this course.Methods:Self-compiled evaluation form was sent to all the students who participated in this course in 2016-2017 school year, and the teaching satisfaction and teaching characteristics were evaluated. The differences of evaluation results from students with different educational programs or teachers with different seniority were compared, and the correlation between evaluation results and teachers' seniority was analyzed.Results:The students had a high evaluation on the course, but students from different programs had significant different comments on thinking inspiring, speech encouraging, questions guiding, process holding and effective feedback, as well as the self-evaluation of mastery degree. For teachers with different seniority, there were significant differences in scores in all aspects except speech encouraging, but no differences in mastery degree. Spearman analysis showed that there was a certain correlation between scores and teachers' seniority.Conclusion:The overall situation of the CPPT case discussion course in our school is worthy of recognition, but it needs to be improved in many aspects.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of osteopontin mRNA and its correlation with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer and elucidate its role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis.

METHODSThe expression of OPN mRNA was detected by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. The relationship between the relative content of OPN mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed.

RESULTSIn 66 cancer tissue samples, a 330 bp band was detected in 50 cases, the positive rate of OPN mRNA expression was 75.8% (50/66). The expression in all 20 cases of normal gastric mucosa was negative. The expression was associated with the depth of tumor invasion, diameter, lymph node metastasis and but had no correlation with differentiation grades. The 66 patients were followed up for 10 approximately 27 months (mean 16 months). The OPN mRNA expression positive group (50 cases) had recurrence in 15 patients and the negative group (16 cases) had only 1 case with recurrence (P = 0.05); 10 patients died in OPN mRNA expression positive group but no patient died in OPN staining negative group (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOPN mRNA is over-expressed in gastric cancer. It reflects the progression of disease and association with poor prognosis of gastric cancer. OPN may play an important role in the process of distant metastasis in gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteopontin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To explore the optimal experiment conditions of CCK-8 and MTS for cell proliferation assays in human amniotic epithelial cells and to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these reagents. Methods Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) in logarithm growth stages were prepared in different cell concentrations with DMEM/F12 and 10% FBS. The sensitivity and optimal wavelengths was determined based on the optical density (OD) measured at 450 nm and 492 nm. The optimal time was determined under the conditions of the same cell concentration and defined OD values. HAECs were treated with DMSO, CCK-8 and MTS for 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h, respectively. 24 h later, cytotoxicity of the CCK-8 and MTS was evaluated by determination of cell proliferation and Trypan Blue staining. Results The optimal detection wavelength was 450 nm for CCK-8, and 492 nm for MTS. The sensitivity of CCK-8 was slightly lower then that of MTS. The optimal time for incubation hAECs with CCK-8 was 4 h within 1~4 h. The inhibitory on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity of CCK-8 were weaker then those of MTS. Conclusion CCK-8 is a convenient reagent with low cytotoxicity for detection of the proliferation of hAECs.

OBJECTIVETo study the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in the microcirculation in rats with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

METHODThe rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, and the rat model with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was built by the body freezing method. Ten traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including 5 with hot property and 5 with cold property, were selected for intervention to observe blood flow rate and flow state indicators in rat auricles and make a comparative analysis on action characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 6 such as Typhae Pollen, Sappan Lignum and Vaccariae Semen can obviously increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the above two models; all of the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but only Salvia miltiorrhiza can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, while other medicines showed no notable effect; among the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with hot property, Carthamus tinctorius and Ligusticum chuanxiong can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but had no obvious effect to the blood flow rate in the rat models with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. According to the analysis on average blood flow rate, traditional Chinese medicines with natural and cold properties showed similar effect on heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with hot property; those with natural and hot properties showed similar effect and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with cold property.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with those with cold property; wile under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with the Chinese medicinal herbs with hot property. This indicates the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property to some extent.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between methyl-tetra-hydrofolic acid (MTHFR) 677 gene polymorphism and the risk of stomach cancer.

METHODSA population based case-control study was conducted and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect its genotypes.

RESULTSAmong cases with stomach cancer, the frequency of C/C, C/T, T/T genotype were 25.8%, 54.6%, 19.6%, compared with controls as 34.5%, 50.9%, 14.6% respectively. Using C/C genotype as reference, the OR of C/T or T/T genotype was 1.52 (95% CI: 1.04 - 2.23). 53.3% C and 46.7% T allele were distributed in stomach cancer cases, while 60.0% C and 40.0% T in controls. The OR for T allele in relation to C allele was 1.31 (1.02 - 1.69) when C allele was used as reference. In addition, the present study showed that MTHFR677 AnyT genotype might interact with smoking, moldy food intake, wheat porridge intake, eating salty food and Hp CagA infection to increase the risk of stomach cancer. No interaction was observed between MTHFR677 AnyT genotype and alcohol drinking or green tea intake.

CONCLUSIONMTHFR677 AnyT genotype, might increase the risk of stomach cancer development and the genotype might also interact with other environmental risk factors to increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo further study the characteristics of drugs with neutral property in two-way application and conditioned dominance by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property in hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats.

METHODThe model of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, while the model of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by body freezing. Subsequently, 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 5 traditional Chinese medicines with heat property and 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property were selected for intervention to observe the changes in such indicators as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit and analyze the action characteristics of drugs with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among six of the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including Typhae Pollen, Sarcandrae Herba and Sappan lignum, could obviously increase the hemorheological indicators of both heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats; five traditional Chinese medicines with cold property, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Leonuri Herba, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma alone could ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.05); all of the five traditional Chinese medicines with heat property could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01), among which Carthami Flos and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats. According to the average high-shear blood viscosity analysis, drugs with neutral property showed similar action characteristics to those with cold property in ameliorating hemorheology indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity; and traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics to those with heat property in improving the hemorheology indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with cold property; but under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with heat property. This indicates that traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show both heat and cold properties under he conditions of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Low Back Pain ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Recovery of Function ; Recurrence ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome